BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 12

BILLIARDS.

[By Marker.]

ITS GROWTH IN WELLINGTON,

It is not long einco billiards was anathematised by quite a number of these people who associated the most scientific of all pastimes with all that was bad. Certainly there was some reason for many of tho hard tilings said about tho surroundings of this delightful sport, ono of the greatest objections being that it wag "a 'public-houso game." Gradually and surely, however, billiards emerged from tho cloud of aspersion until, to-day, tallica are to bo found in clubs, private hemes, schools of art, church associations, and universities. Instead of being tho rule, it is quite tho exception now for billiard tables to be installed in hotels. Their proper atmosphere, however, is tho club or institute. 111 the matter of billiard development, Wellington has as jnany, if not more, tables, than any city of its cize. Already there aro room's with eleven, eight, six, and a largo number with four or fivo tables in each, while a 22-tablo room is shortly to be opened in Manners Street. It is said that more people play billiards daily than uiko part; in any other kind of sport. Such an assertion may appear wide of tho mark, but a calculation of the number of people who must patronise the 150 billiard tables installed in Wellington and suburbs each day, to niako them pay, brings the tally up to 1050 daily—MHO each week, lioughly, a tablo and all requirements costs ,£IOO. So it will bo seen that there is a fair amount of capital invested in billiard appliances iu this city alone, while a New Zealand country town that has 110 billiard table would bo difficult to find. The Now Zealand professional champion cueist, J W. Head, concluded his tour of tlio South Island at Tcmuka on Saturday last, when lie conceded a local player (Jlr. Keen) 100 points in a gamo of (50, and won by 282. The champion was again in good form. His first visit b> tho table was a break of 191, which was followed with 111, 101, 87, and 78 unfinished.' llead leaves on Monday next for tho West Coast, where lie has been engaged to give several exhibitions. At Menzic's Hotel, Melbourne, a number of nervous amateurs competed for a high-est-break trophy. A modest 21 did tlio trick. 11. W. Stevenson gave tho trophygold sleeve-links—and tho winner ought to reckon himself one of fortune's favoured children. This tournament of • invited guests followed an exhibition of billiards and snooker by Stevenson and Meiumot. Host Norman Menzies, who ran tho show, was presumably tho originator of the neat little sporting notion of a highest-break competition. Tho red, and 0110 of tho whites, wero placed in easy positions for "losers" into the middlo pockets, and each man in turn played from the bSulked D for all 110 was worth. Given a cool head and a bit of luck, any sort of amateur might have scored more than 21, which took tho sleeve-liuks. Everyone will be glad to hoar that T. Recce, tho English' professional cueist, litis just signed a contract with Aleock and Co. to return to Australia in Juno of next year for a season. The tour will include a week in Perth, a week in Adelaide, a month in Melbourne, a fivo weeks' tour of Now Zealand, finishing' with three weeks in Sydney. Oil that occasion liccco hopes to bring Mrs. Eeeco with him.